Foot disease is the leading cause of death and euthanasia in captive elephants, driven by hard substrates, inadequate exercise, and moisture imbalances in zoo and sanctuary settings.
Foot disease in captive elephants is a slow welfare crisis: abscesses deepen, bones become infected, and the condition progresses to a point where euthanasia is the only humane option. The root cause is simple — elephants evolved walking on varied, natural substrates for hours daily, and captive environments deny this. Concrete floors, even with rubber matting, cannot replace the conditioning effect of natural terrain. Sanctuaries that provide large acreage with varied substrates, combined with managed walking programmes, have transformed foot health outcomes for their elephants. The lesson is clear: no amount of veterinary foot care compensates for inadequate exercise and inappropriate substrate.